{"id":34598,"date":"2024-08-25T19:13:06","date_gmt":"2024-08-26T00:13:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/?p=34598"},"modified":"2024-08-25T19:21:11","modified_gmt":"2024-08-26T00:21:11","slug":"stuck-on-the-iss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/?p=34598","title":{"rendered":"Stuck on the ISS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Two astronauts are stuck on the ISS. Their return vehicle, the Boeing Starliner, was determined to be non-space-worthy yesterday. The astronauts will have to wait until February to get a ride back to Earth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Nasa said the Boeing Starliner spacecraft the astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore had travelled to International Space Station (ISS) on would return to Earth “un-crewed”.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The pair took off on what was planned to be an eight-day mission on 5 June but will now spend around eight months in orbit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Starliner experienced problems on its way to the ISS, including leaks of helium, which pushes fuel into the propulsion system. Several thrusters also did not work properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boeing and SpaceX were both awarded billion-dollar contracts by Nasa to provide commercial space flights for its astronauts. Boeing\u2019s was worth $4.2bn (\u00a33.18bn) while SpaceX, which was founded by billionaire Elon Musk, got $2.6bn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SpaceX has so far sent nine crewed flights to space for Nasa, as well as some commercial missions, but this was Boeing\u2019s first attempt at a crewed mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The organisation said Mr Wilmore, 61, and Ms Williams, 58, both “fully” supported the plans for their return and would spend the next few months carrying out scientific work, space maintenance and possibly doing some “spacewalks”.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\nBBC<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Expedition 71<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Expedition 71<\/strong> is the 71st long-duration expedition to the International Space Station. The expedition began with the departure of Soyuz MS-24 on 6 April 2024 with Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko continuing his ISS command from Expedition 70. It will end with his departure on Soyuz MS-25 with crewmates from MS-24 and MS-25 on 24 September 2024.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\nWikipedia<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Sunita Williams<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Sunita “Suni” Lyn Williams<\/strong> (n\u00e9e Pandya; born September 19, 1965) is an American astronaut, retired United States Navy officer, and former record holder for most spacewalks by a woman (seven) and most spacewalk time for a woman (50 hours, 40 minutes).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Williams was assigned to the International Space Station as a member of Expedition 14 and Expedition 15. In 2012, she served as a flight engineer on Expedition 32 and then commander of Expedition 33. In 2024, she returned to the ISS on the Boeing Crewed Flight Test, the first crewed mission of the Boeing Starliner; her return to Earth has been delayed until February 2025<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After launching Williams arranged to donate her pony tail to Locks of Love. Fellow astronaut Joan Higginbotham cut her hair aboard the International Space Station and the ponytail was brought back to Earth by the STS-116 crew.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Marathon in space<\/strong>
On April 16, 2007, she ran the first marathon by any person in space. Williams was listed as an entrant for the 2007 Boston Marathon, and completed the distance in 4 hours and 24 minutes.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The other crew members cheered her on and gave her oranges during the race. Williams’ sister, Dina Pandya, and fellow astronaut Karen L. Nyberg ran the marathon on Earth, and Williams received updates on their progress from Mission Control. In 2008, Williams participated in the Boston Marathon again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Williams graduated from Needham High School in 1983….In June 2017, the Needham Public Schools committee voted to name the town’s new elementary school after Williams.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\nWikipedia<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Barry Wilmore<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Barry Eugene “Butch” Wilmore (born December 29, 1962) is a NASA astronaut and United States Navy test pilot. He has had three spaceflights, the first of which was an 11-day Space Shuttle mission in November 2009, to the International Space Station.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n


Wilmore was designated as pilot with five other crew members on Space Shuttle Atlantis for the mission STS-129. He served as part of Expedition 41 to the International Space Station, and in 2024 returned to the ISS on the Boeing Crewed Flight Test, the first crewed mission of the Boeing Starliner. He is currently in space and is set to return to Earth in 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Wilmore graduated from Mount Juliet High School in Mount Juliet, Tennessee. Wilmore has received a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science degree from Tennessee Tech in electrical engineering, and a Master of Science in Aviation Systems from the University of Tennessee. Mr. Wilmore was a member, letterman and team captain of the Tennessee Technological University football team.<\/p>\nWikipedia<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n